Taking a World Cruise is more than just the ports and countries you visit, because almost half of the 111 days are at sea. The longest stretch so far has been the five days between Kauai, Hawaii and Papeete, Tahiti.
I can understand why many of our frequent cruiser friends usually travel throughout the Caribbean the most. Not only are there many gorgeous regions to visit, but there are fewer days at sea between ports.
Traveling across the ocean can involve rocky seas and even high winds for long stretches. Additionally, most people just cannot (or don’t want to) be away from home for over 100 days. However, there are three children on the ship with their two mothers, and they are being homeschooled throughout the trip. We have met “snowbird” couples who take world cruises in the winter instead of renting a condo or buying a second home in warmer climes such as Florida.
Crew members greet you and perform to celebrate "Sail Away."
Each "leg" of the trip is celebrated with a champagne tower.
For more people than I ever realized, cruising is their way of life. We have talked to people who have been on five or even more world cruises. One couple said they already signed up for a 138 day world cruise for January 2024.
Live music with Aileen & Sticks (from Ireland) in the Wheelhouse Bar.
There are many who just enjoy being at sea, even in a smaller ship like the Island Princess. They don’t care how rough it gets. They don’t have a propensity for motion sickness or get vertigo when just walking down the hallway tosses them around, or makes them lurch suddenly into someone’s path when the ship shifts and rocks. They lounge in couches and chairs in the hallways, reading a book or playing cards or board games. They sun themselves on the decks, soak in the hot tubs, and get bobbed around by the waves in the pool.
They go to line dancing, waltz, and Zumba classes; learn to hula dance and play the ukulele; string leis and do finger painting; go to every show, whether a musical or stand-up comedian; go to all the formal nights and stand in line for the Captain’s Cocktail Party; work out hard in the gym and play corn hole, ping pong, pickle ball and shuffleboard; get facials and massages in the spa; enjoy afternoon tea on sea days; play bingo and trivia; attend every lecture about each port.
Throughout the hallways are interactive boards telling you
everything that is going on and how to find your way around the ship.
The library is well stocked with games and books.
The Wheelhouse Bar has great ambience and live music. It is a very relaxing atmosphere.
Hot pizza is always available, and there is a grill upstairs for
burgers, fries, and other great treats.
On the day we crossed the equator, there was a big celebration around the large pool to initiate all of us Pollywogs into Shellbacks. Over 435 people signed up for it. We not only received a certificate for crossing the equator, but also one for going through the Panama Canal Zone.
We enjoy formal nights, when we can dress up dinner in the main dining room and then have our photos taken. Formal nights are always on sea days. We have had several between Ft. Lauderdale and Mo'orea, and have actually attended three of them.
The main dining room creates elegant desserts.
The food in the main dining room is amazing.
Cruise ship staff members work hard to provide a wide variety of entertainment and activities. They strive to insure that every passenger feels pampered and spoiled throughout the cruise. On the Island Princess, they do all of this in such a matter of fact way, you might not even realize how much they are doing for you.
You can learn all kinds of new skills, such as carving animals
out of vegetables and fruit.
One of the shows was an Elton John impersonator with a fantastic band.
Flora, who is from Peru, puts on a different show each day,
teaching us how to make a variety of exotic cocktails.
We love Sherwin, who is from Granada. He usually works
at the casino bar, but here he is pitch hitting while the ship
is docked at Tahiti for fellow bartenders who went on shore.
Each evening we receive a printed copy of the Princess Patter for the following day, with an hour-by-hour list of everything available to do. This 111 day Island Princess World Cruise has an average age of 70; therefore, it seems that many activities are tailored to this age group. There is never a shortage of great things to do, even if it's just taking a nap.
Visiting the Polynesian Islands has been an incredible experience. We highly recommend that you consider taking a cruise beyond the Caribbean, because experiencing the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and meeting so many people both onboard and at our destinations has been wonderfully enjoyable, educational, and enriching. It doesn't even feel as if we have been at sea for almost a month already. We are excitedly looking to the incredible countries we will be visiting during the next three months.
Amazing!!
Angela, how is your sea sickness during days at sea?